Kidney Disease Facts

Kidney disease is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 20 million adults in the U.S. have some form of kidney disease, often without realizing it. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top two reasons why people develop kidney problems.

With these numbers continually growing, it’s important to understand what kidney disease is and how we can address it.

What Is Kidney Disease?

Your kidneys are vital organs that help clean your blood by removing about 2 quarts of waste and extra fluid daily. When someone has kidney disease, their kidneys cannot perform this essential task. It’s a condition that can happen suddenly or develop slowly over time. Signs of kidney disease might include:
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Swelling in different parts of your body
  • Tiredness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Pain in your back or sides
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What Causes Kidney Disease?

Several things can lead to kidney disease:

High Blood Pressure

This occurs when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. If this pressure isn’t controlled, it can lead to serious health issues, including kidney failure.

Diabetes

People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing kidney disease. Diabetes significantly increases the risk of kidney failure compared to the general population.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

PKD is an inherited condition that causes fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys. These cysts can push on healthy kidney tissue and interfere with how well the kidneys work. PKD is the most common inherited kidney disease in the U.S., affecting around 500,000 people. Nearly half of those with PKD may eventually face serious kidney problems that require treatments like dialysis or a transplant.

The Impact of Drugs and Alcohol on Your Kidneys

Your kidneys work hard to filter out harmful substances from your blood, including drugs and alcohol. These substances put extra strain on your kidneys because they have to work harder to cleanse your blood of these toxins.

Kidney disease often begins silently, with early warning signs appearing in medical tests before you might feel any symptoms. Understanding your test results can help you take control of your kidney health journey.

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